Trunk-locking mechanism



B; M. HAM-LIN.

"TRUNK LOCKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATOH FILEQFEB: 20, 1820.

Patented May 10, 1921-:

'2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- B. M. HAMLIN.

TRUNK LOCKING MECHANISM.

APPLlCATiON FILED FEB- 20, 1820.

1,377,770. Patented May 10,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- BEN M. HAMLIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ASSIGNOR TO J. V. MEYEBING TRUNK COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TRUNK-LOCKING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 19, 1921.

Application filed February 20, 1920. Serial No. 360,215. r

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, BEN M. HAMLIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Trunk-Locking Mechanism, of which the following is declared to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to trunk locking mechanism, and its principal object is to provide a simple, eflicient and improved mechanism for locking together the two sections of wardrobe trunks. The invention relates more particularly to that type of trunk locking mechanism which employs mecha nism located on the inside of the trunk for locking the two sections together at a plurality of places, and controlled by the usual lock hasp which is located on the outside of the trunk. Another object is to provide reinforcement bars along the free edges of the garment section for holding the drawers of the drawer section in place when the trunk is closed, and utilizing one of said reinforcement bars as a member of the looking means. l/Vith these and other objects and advantages in view, this invention consists in the several novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical cross section through a wardrobe trunk showing, in side elevation, a simple embodiment of the present trunk locking mechanism, the parts being shown in their locked position. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, except that the locking mechanism is shown in unlocked position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a fragment of the reinforcement bar, an operating bar and one of the locking members. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken 0n the line 14: of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a fragment of the reinforcement bar, and Fig. 6 is a detail horizontal section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 1.

Referring to said drawings, the reference character 8 designates the drawer section and 9 the garment section of a wardrobe trunk of ordinary and well known construction. The two sections are hinged together by hinges 10, and the locking mechanism is provided at the opposite meeting edges of the trunk sections. The usual drawers 11 are provided in the drawer section 8, and garment hangers (not shown) are provided in the garment section 9 as is usual. Adjacent the edges of the garment section 9 of the trunk aremetal reinforcement bars 12 which may be in the form of angle iron bars and said bars are riveted or otherwise firmly secured to the inner face of the garment section. Saidbars strengthen and reinforce the free edges of the garment section, and also act to hold the drawers in place during transportation of thetrunk. The reinforcement bars 12 engage the sides 13 of the drawers, as is clearly shown in Fig. 4, and prevent them from sliding out of the drawer section when the trunk is shut.

Pivotally secured to brackets 14L on the drawer section 8 are locking members 15, here illustrated in the form of flat bars having notches 16 in their lower edges that leave shoulders 17 which engage with one reinforcement bar 12 when the two sections of the trunk are locked together, or engage with lugs 18 that may be rigidly secured to said reinforcement bar. In the form of the construction illustrated, one flange 19 of the reinforcement bar 12 is formed with slots 20 through which the locking members 15 may pass when the trunk is'opened and closed, and such slots are made sufficiently large to permit the locking members 15 to be raised out of engagement with the lugs 18 or other parts on the reinforcement bar with which said locking members engage when the two trunk sections are together- As shown, the brackets 1% are provided with portions 21 which are struck up from the main body of the brackets and overhang the locking members 15, the lower ends of said struck up portions 21 acting as shoulders or stops limiting the downward ntiovement of the locking members 15 and holding them in position to enter the slots 20 whenever the two sections of the trunk are brought together. Preferably, the forward lower edges of the locln'ng members 15 are beveled off as seen at 22 to facilitate the entrance of the locking members through the slots 20. Said beveled or inclined edges 22 of the locking members ride up the lower edges of the slots when the trunk sections are brought together, and when the two trunk sections are fully brought together in close contact, the

notches 16 of the locking members 15 receive the upper ends of the lugs 18 which may be beveled off as seen at 23 in Fig. 3.

Means are provided for positively holding the locking members in engagement with the reinforcement bar 19 or the lugs 18 carried thereby, and said means are shown to coinprise an endwise movable operating bar 2 1 guided in brackets 25 secured to the section 9 and having shoulders or lugs 26 that are adapted to engage with the upper edges of the locking members 15. Said operating bar 24 is provided at its upper end with rack teeth 27 with which mesh a toothed segment 28 fast upon a pin or stud 29 which acts as the pivot for the lock hasp member 30. As usual, said lock hasp member is located on the outside of the trunk section and is provided with a key-controlled lock (not shown) which cooperates with a socket member 31 located on the outside of the trunk section 8, to lock the two sections of the trunk together.

When locked, the locking members 15 extend through the slots 20 of the reinforce ment bar 12 and the shoulders 17 thereof engage with the inner face of said reinforcement bar or with the lugs 18 thereof (when lugs are used), and the shoulders or lugs 26 of the operating bar engage with the upper edges of the locking members 15 and positively hold said locking members in locked engagement with said reinforcement bar or lugs 18. In this position of the parts, the lock hasp member 30 can be swung into engagement with socket 31 and locked therewith, thereby locking the two trunk sections together at a plurality of places. To unlock the trunk sections, the key is inserted in the lock of the lock hasp member 30 and the latter unlocked from the socket 31. Said lock hasp member 81 is then swung up to the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby raising the bar 24 and freeing the lugs 26 from the locking members 15. The two sections of the trunk may then be swung apart since the locking members 15 are free to ride up the inclined edges 23 of the lugs 18. To lock the trunk, the two sections are swung together, the locking members 15 passing through the slots 20 of the reinforcement bar 12 and dropping over the upper edges of the lugs 18. The lock hasp member 30 is then swung down to the position seen in Fig. 1, thereby forcing down the operating bar 24, and in case the two trunk sections have not been brought into, close contact, the lugs 26 will engage the upper edges of the locking members 15 and force said locking members down the inclined upper described, but intend, in the following claims, to point out all of the invention disclosed herein.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. Trunk locking mechanism for locking together the two sections of a trunk, comprising a plurality of locking members pivotally secured to one section, a reinforce ment bar slotted for the reception of said locking members, secured to the other trunk section along its free edge and arranged to be engaged by said locking members, an endwise movable operating bar slidably mounted on the trunk section to which the reinforcement bar is secured and having means for engaging the upper edge of said locking members, and lock-controlled means for positively moving said operating bar in endwise directions.

2. Trunk locking mechanism for locking together the two sections of a trunk, comprising a plurality of locking members pivotally secured to one section, an angle iron reinforcement bar notched for the reception of said locking members, secured to the other trunk section along its free edge and arranged to be engaged by said locking members, an endwise movable operating bar slidably mounted on the trunk section to which the reinforcement bar is secured and having lateral shoulders for engaging the upper edge of said locking members, and lock-controlled means for positively moving said operating bar in endwise directions. 7/

3. Trunk locking mechanism for locking together the two sections of a trunk, comprising a plurality of locking members in one trunk section, a metal reinforcement bar, slotted for the reception of said locking members, secured to the other trunk section along its free edge and arranged to be lockingly engaged by said locking members, an endwise movable operating bar for actuating said locking members, and lock controlled means for positively moving said operating bar in endwise directions.

BEN M. HAMLIN. 

